Closure Device for a Bottle

ABSTRACT

A closure device ( 11 ) for a bottle comprising an attachment means ( 14 ) which attaches to the neck ( 21 ) of a bottle and comprises a sleeve portion ( 33 ) having an inner surface ( 20 ) with a thread configured to engage with an external thread on the neck of the bottle and a main body ( 25 ) having a pump portion with a pump ( 26 ), whereby the device is able to attach to the bottle by screwing the attachment means onto the bottle neck to enable the pump to be used to extract air from the bottle. In another embodiment instead of a pump, the main body may include a pour portion to assist in pouring of contents of the bottle including a cover portion for covering the opening to the mouth of the bottle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for attachment to bottles.

The invention is particularly applicable to devices such as vacuum pumps and pourers used in the wine industry. However the invention is equally applicable to other industries associated with the supply of beverages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical bottle of wine utilises a cork to seal wine off from the outside environment. Once the cork is removed from the bottle, air is able to enter the bottle and aerate the wine. If it is desired to store a bottle of wine which has already been opened it is desirable to evacuate as much air as possible from the bottle in order to preserve the wine. Devices which are useful in this regard are called vacuum pumps and have a lower end which fits into the mouth of the bottle. A finger operable pump is able to be depressed repeatedly in order to evacuate air from inside the bottle. Typically the lower end of the vacuum pump forms a seal with the inner surface of the neck of the bottle once the lower end of the vacuum pump is physically forced into the neck of the bottle. The outer surface of the vacuum pump normally consists of a series of ribs with O-rings located in the grooves between adjacent ribs.

The problem with existing vacuum pumps is the requirement to forcibly insert the end of the vacuum pump into the neck of the bottle.

The present invention provides an alternative closure device which in one embodiment may be used for a purpose other than a vacuum pump.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure device for a bottle having a screw on cap instead of a cork.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure device for a bottle comprising an attachment means which attaches to the neck of a bottle and comprises a sleeve portion having an inner surface with a thread configured to engage with an external thread on the neck of the bottle and a main body having a lower portion configured to contact the neck of a bottle, whereby the device is able to attach to the bottle by screwing the attachment means onto the bottle neck to enable a functional part of the main body to be used.

It is preferred that the closure includes a sealing means for insertion in the mouth of the bottle and for providing a seal with the inner surface of the neck of the bottle.

Preferably the sealing means is part of the main body.

According to one embodiment the main body comprises a pump portion comprising a pump for extracting air from the bottle.

According to an alternative embodiment the main body comprises a pour portion to assist with pouring of contents of the bottle.

The attachment means sleeve portion may comprise a tubular member.

The attachment means may be able to rotate around the neck of the bottle independently of the pump.

Preferably the attachment means sleeve portion comprises a tubular member.

The attachment means may be able to rotate around the neck of the bottle independently of the pump.

It is preferred that the attachment means has a first coupling means for coupling with a second coupling means of the pump portion.

Preferably the first coupling portion comprises a male or female portion and the second coupling portion comprises a matching female or male portion.

The first coupling portion preferably comprises an annular channel.

The annular channel is preferably located between inner and outer walls of the attachment means.

The inner wall preferably includes the inner surface.

The outer wall preferably has a lower flange which assists with screwing the attachment means onto the neck of a bottle having an external screw thread (e.g. a Stelvin wine bottle).

According to one embodiment of the invention the closure device is able to be attached to a neck of a bottle without an external screw thread by simply forcing the inner surface over the external surface of the neck of the bottle.

The second coupling portion may comprise an annular skirt which fits at least partially within the annular channel.

It is preferred that the first coupling means annular channel includes an upper retainer to retain the skirt within the annular channel.

Preferably the upper retainer is in the form of an annular rim.

The retainer may be configured to provide an upper limit to movement of the skirt within the channel.

The skirt is preferably configured with a lower peripheral rim which is configured to engage with the retainer to prevent upward movement of the skirt relative to the attachment means.

The skirt may be configured to be able to move vertically within the channel.

Preferably the skirt has a detent for engagement with the retainer to prevent upward movement of the skirt relative to the attachment means.

The retainer may be located at a top end of the attachment means.

It is preferred that the attachment means comprises an annular member with an inner surface which is able to slide down the outside of the neck of a bottle to engage the neck of the bottle in a fashion which allows operation of the pump portion.

The pour portion may include a tongue portion which extends from the mouth of the bottle.

The pour portion preferably includes an annular sealing means at a lower end thereof.

It is preferred that the pour portion includes a cover portion for covering the opening to the mouth of a bottle.

Preferably the cover portion includes a plurality of perforations to allow passage of fluid therethrough.

It is preferred that the tongue portion comprises a frusto cylindrical section.

Preferably the pour portion has an external surface with a locating means to enable a cap to be attached to the pour portion.

Preferably the locating means comprises a peripheral flange.

It is preferred that the device includes a cap, a lower end of which is able to couple with the peripheral flange of the pour portion.

According to one embodiment the attachment means is integrally formed with the pour portion.

It is preferred that the attachment means comprises a shoulder portion around an upper section of the pour portion, which shoulder portion is adapted to abut with the lower end of the cap.

It is preferred that the shoulder portion is located slightly above the level of the cover portion.

The main body includes the second coupling portion.

It is preferred that the second coupling portion extends from a lower end portion of the main body.

It is preferred that the second coupling portion comprises a collar extending around a central cylindrical body of the main body.

The pump portion may comprise a valve system.

Preferably the valve system includes two valves.

The pump portion preferably includes a central passage.

The pump portion may comprise a conventional vacuum pump mechanism for bottles of wine.

The main body preferably includes a handle.

The pump portion may include a pump button on a top part of the handle.

It is preferred that the pump portion includes a pump plunger extending through a central passage through the main body.

The sealing means may include an annular member such as a neoprene O-ring.

It is preferred that the closure device can be used on bottles with or without an external screw thread.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a closure device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the closure device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 2 when attached to the neck of a bottle having an external screw thread;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a closure device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a pourer of the device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the pourer shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional front view of the closure device shown in FIG. 4 when attached to a Stelvin bottle;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional front view of another embodiment of a closure device similar to that shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 shows a front view of the closure device shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As shown in FIG. 1 a closure device in the form of a vacuum pump 11 has a handle section 12 with a vacuum pump button 13 located on the top surface thereof. An attachment collar 14 is shown at a lower end with a centrally located stopper 15 extending proud of the lower end of the device 11. This is shown more clearly in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3 the attachment collar 14 of the closure device 11 consists of annular outer wall 16 separated from an annular inner wall 17 by an annular groove 18.

The lower end of the outer annular wall 16 is in the form of annular flange 19.

The inner surface 20 of the inner annular wall 17 is provided with a screw thread which is configured to match the external screw thread of the neck of a bottle 21 to which it is to be attached.

The upper end of outer annular wall 16 tapers inwardly and has an annular rib 22 located at the upper end of its inner surface 23.

The inner annular wall 17 is shorter in vertical length than the outer annular wall 16 and has an upper limit 24 which is below the level of the tapering wall 24.

The main body 25 of the device 11 includes the handle 12 and a vacuum pump assembly 26. The lower mid section of the main body 26 is in the form of a collar 28 having an upper outwardly flaring section 29 and a straight vertically extending lower section 30.

The lower end 31 of the lower section 30 is provided with an external annular lip 31. As shown in FIG. 3 the straight section 30 fits into the annular groove 18 so that the inner wall 32 of the straight section 30 abuts the opposing outer surface of the inner wall 17 of the attachment collar 14. The outer surface 33 of the straight wall 30 abuts with the inner edge of the annular rib 22.

The collar 28 may be integrally formed with a tubular section 33 on which the handle 12 is mounted. Alternatively the collar 28 may be attached to this tubular section 33.

The tubular section 33 forms part of the main body 27 and at a lower mid section has a tapered stepped section 34 which extends into a lower tubular section 35 of reduced internal diameter.

The stopper 15 is located around the external surface of the second tubular section 35 and is provided to form a seal with the inner surface of the neck of the bottle.

The lower tubular section 27 is divided into an upper passage 36 and a lower passage 37. The upper passage includes a lower valve 38 which sits below an upper valve component consisting of a valve housing including an external O-ring which forms a seal with the inner walls of the upper tubular section 33 and an inner valve member 39. A central passage (not shown) extends from the button 13 all the way down to the valve housing 38 and forms part of a continuous passage through the device 11 into the lowermost chamber of the lower passage 37.

In operation the attachment collar 14 is screwed onto the neck of a bottle 21. In the process of screwing this collar 14 onto the neck of a bottle the annular rib 22 engages the annular lip 31 thus pulling the whole of the main body 26 downwardly. This forces the lower end of the main body into the neck of the bottle and enables the tapered external surface of the stopper 15 to seal against the inner surface of the neck of the bottle.

When the collar 14 is fully screwed onto the neck of the bottle the device is properly attached. The button 13 can then be repeatedly depressed in an operation similar to that of convention vacuum pumps for wine bottles to withdraw air from inside the bottle through the lower and upper passages 37 and 36 respectively through the valve housing 38 up through the central passage and out through an appropriately located air outlet. As air pressure outside the bottle is greater than air pressure inside the bottle, the lower valve 36 is normally engaged over the hole of the wall separating the upper and lower passages 36 and 37.

With the above device it is relatively easy to attach a vacuum pump to a bottle having an external screw thread.

It should be noted that the above embodiment can be attached so that the inner screw thread of the inner wall 17 is replaced with a series of inner ribs which allow attachment of the device to a regular wine bottle without an external screw thread.

In other embodiments other internal surfaces may also be used other than one with a screw thread.

It is also noted that when the collar 14 is screwed onto the neck of a bottle, it is able to rotate relative to the main body 26 and the collar 28. This enables the vacuum pump lower end to be easily inserted into the neck of a bottle without it having to rotate at the same time as the external collar 14.

According to another embodiment of the present invention the main body may incorporate a wine pourer instead of a vacuum pump. The wine pourer may include a tubular device with a contoured tongue to allow easy dispensing of liquid from the bottle. In such an embodiment the handle 12 can be dispensed with and the tongue would extend upwardly proud of the collar 28.

A closure device incorporating a wine pourer is shown in FIGS. 4 to 7. Details of this device will be described hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 4 the pourer device 40 consists of a top 41 which is similar in design to the handle 12 of the first embodiment described. At the lower end the pourer includes an attachment collar 42.

Removal of the cap 41 reveals a pourer spout 43 extending from a base surface 44 which flares outwardly and forms the upper part of the collar 42. The base surface 44 includes a flat horizontal partition wall 45 which separates the spout 43 from a lower tubular section 46 which is provided with a sealing ring 47 at its lowermost end for forming a seal between the top of the Stelvin bottle 48 shown and the rest of the pourer 40.

The base wall 44 which surrounds the spout 43 includes a shoulder section 48 surrounding the spout 43. Above the shoulder 48 a small peripheral rib 49 is provided. This rib 49 engages with an inwardly directed annular lip 50 at the bottom of the cap 41.

The top of the cap 41 is provided with a lid 51 which can be designed as a flip top lid.

The attachment collar 42 consists of two parallel vertical walls 52, 53 with the inner wall 51 having an internal thread to allow it to be attached to a Stelvin bottle.

In use the wine pourer 40 is screwed onto a Stelvin bottle by clasping the attachment collar 42 and screwing it onto the Stelvin bottle. When it is desired to pour the contents of the bottle either the cap 41 can be removed by disengaging the lip 50 from the rib 49 or alternatively the flip lid 51 can be lifted.

The base wall 45 is provided with an array of perforations to assist with aeration of the fluid as it leaves the bottle.

The nozzle in the embodiment shown has the shape of a flared tongue, but equally may have an alternative shape.

The closure device 60 shown in FIG. 8 has a cap 61, which in contrast to the device shown in FIG. 7, is located within a sleeve 62. The shape of the sleeve 62 shown in FIG. 9 is generally cylindrical with a bevelled flared opening which acts as the pourer spout.

The sleeve and spout 62, 63 extend from attachment collar 64 which is similar in configuration to the attachment collar 42 in FIG. 7. In addition however an aerator is welded to the attachment collar 64 and is centrally located as referenced by item 65 in FIG. 8. The aerator 65 is seated at the bottom of the mouth of the spout 63.

Thus the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 show how a cap can be incorporated which either fits over the outside of the spout or nozzle or inside it.

It is also noted that in FIG. 8 the cap is provided with sealing rings 66, 67 which may also be provided on an inner surface of the cap 41 shown in FIG. 7.

It should further be noted that in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment is envisaged in which the main body 26 has its lower cylindrical section configured to fit inside the tubular section 33.

According to another variation of the present invention the attachment collar shown in each of the devices may have a reverse configuration with the screw-on section, for example annular flange 19, provided with an upwardly directed collar which fits into an annular groove located at the lower end of collar 28. Thus the collar 28 and attachment collar 14 interact in the same manner but in a reverse configuration to that shown in FIG. 3. A similar alternative embodiment is envisaged for each of the other devices disclosed in FIGS. 7 and 8.

With regard to the aerator shown in FIG. 8, according to one embodiment this consists of a circular disk with a series of apertures therethrough and a downwardly directed central spigot with a passage therethrough. This spigot fits into a tube extending downwardly from the device and when the device is attached to a bottle extends through the neck of the bottle to the interior. This enables air flow/fluid flow through the tube via the hole in the spigot as well as through the other holes which may be concentrically arranged around a central hole co-terminus with the passage through the spigot.

Thus in use if the device is attached to a wine bottle, wine is able to be easily poured out through the device and the arrangement of the holes and tubes attached to the spigot, assists with aeration of the wine.

The concentric holes may be in the form of slanted radial splits.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 

1. A closure device for a bottle comprising an attachment means including an inner wall with a screw thread which screws onto an external screw thread of a bottle and a first coupling portion; and a main body with a functional part and including a second coupling portion which couples with the first coupling portion whereby the attachment means is able to rotate around the neck of the bottle independently of the main body, and wherein the second coupling portion fits at least partially within an annular channel of the first coupling portion and is retained within the annular channel by a retainer of the first coupling portion.
 2. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the main body includes a sealing means for insertion in a mouth of the bottle and providing a seal with the inner surface of the neck of the bottle.
 3. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first coupling portion comprises a male or female portion and the second coupling portion comprises a matching female or male portion.
 4. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the annular channel is located between inner and outer walls of the attachment means.
 5. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second coupling portion comprises an annular skirt which fits at least partially within the annular channel.
 6. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first coupling portion is configured with an upper retainer to retain the skirt within the annular channel.
 7. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper retainer comprises an annular rim.
 8. The closure device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the skirt is configured with a lower peripheral rim which is configured to engage with the retainer to prevent upward movement of the skirt relative to the attachment means.
 9. The closure device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the skirt is configured to be able to move vertically within the channel.
 10. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises an annular member with an inner surface which is able to slide down the neck of a bottle to engage a screw thread of the neck of the bottle.
 11. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second coupling portion extends from a lower end portion of the main body and comprises a collar extending around a central cylindrical portion of the main body.
 12. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the main body comprises a pump for extracting air from the bottle to which the device is attached.
 13. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the main body comprises a pour portion to assist with pouring of the contents of the bottle.
 14. A closure device for a bottle comprising an attachment means which attaches to the neck of a bottle and comprises a sleeve portion having an inner surface with a thread configured to engage with an external thread on the neck of the bottle and a main body including a pour portion to assist with pouring of contents of the bottle, and including an aerator comprising a wall with a series of apertures and a passage for coupling with a tube which extends downwardly from the device and through the neck of a bottle to which the device is attached.
 15. The closure device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the apertures arranged radially around the passage.
 16. The closure device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the main body comprises a central downwardly extending spigot with the passage therethrough.
 17. The closure device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the apertures are in the form of slanted radial slits. 